Town Pop. 2,234

Living in Downley: Liveability Score 63/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Downley is 63/100, built from 9 categories. Its biggest lead over the typical UK town is healthcare: 62/100 against a national town median of 18/100. No other settlement in the HP13 postcode district scores higher. Downley leads all 3.

It scores 5 points above the HP13 postcode district as a whole, which averages 58/100. On healthcare specifically, Downley sits 15 points below the HP13 district figure of 77/100. That sits 13 points above the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the top 5% of the towns and villages we score. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the HP13 postcode district.

63
OUT OF 100
Average
Score for:

Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

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Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Downley scores 63 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Downley.
Or compare:
HP13 5AA HP13 6AA HP13 7AA HP13

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
81
127.1 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 102 crimes
↑ 37% above national average
Shoplifting 38 crimes
↑ 118% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 36 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Other theft 24 crimes
↑ 73% above national average
Drugs 17 crimes
↑ 130% above national average
other 67 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 Supermarket 34 crimes
  2. 2 Avery Avenue 33 crimes
  3. 3 Southfield Road 29 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment
67
Air Quality NO₂ 8.037 · PM2.5 7.064 · PM10 10.922 µg/m³
71
Green Space 58
Parks Ample 7
Sports Pitches None
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 1
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 1

Services

Schools
35
4 schools in area · 24 within 4km
2Requires Improvement1Inadequate1Ungraded
  • Millbrook Combined SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Requires Improvement
  • West Wycombe SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Requires Improvement
  • The Downley SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Inadequate
  • The Disraeli SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Ungraded

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

Score reflects proximity-weighted access to rated schools within 4km: areas with more nearby schools score higher regardless of settlement boundary.

Healthcare
62
A&E departmentsStoke Mandeville Hospital10.2 mi
Wexham Park Hospital11.6 mi
Royal Berkshire Hospital15.3 mi
Hospital waitsMidlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust1.3 mi
Routine referral (median)4 wks
Treated within 18 weeks92.8%
Nearest GP surgeryTower House Surgery0.9 mi
GP capacity2,461 patients per GP
0dentists1pharmacy

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband
90
Full fibre (FTTP)72.7%
available across Buckinghamshire
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
93.5%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
94.4%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.8%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 47 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
85
Employment rate62.7%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed62.7%Unemployed2.4%Retired21.9%Student4.5%Other inactive8.4%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial50.4%Skilled & technical32.7%Routine & elementary16.9%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications13%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)7.8%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.4%Level 3 (A levels)16.2%Level 4+ (degree & above)41.7%Apprenticeship5.7%Other (incl. vocational)2.2%
Home ownership85.7%
Among the least-deprived 13% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
40
Council tax Buckinghamshire · 2026-27
A £1,685
B £1,965
C £2,246
D £2,527
E £3,089
F £3,650
G £4,212
H £5,054
Energy Southern England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water Affinity Water
Average bill regional £490/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
53
High Wycombe 1.9 mi
Saunderton 2.9 mi
Great Missenden 4.8 mi
J4 M40 2.4 mi
J4 M40 2.5 mi
J3 M40 4.9 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
55
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes Some 1
Supermarkets & Convenience Adequate 4
Retail Shopping Adequate 8
Takeaways Adequate 4
Fitness Some 1

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House Prices

Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £480,000 17
5-year monthly trend
All
£479k £508k £537k £566k 2022 2023 2024 2025

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)

Nearby places

Hughenden Valley 54 1.6 mi away ⇄
High Wycombe 59 1.7 mi away ⇄
Walter's Ash and Naphill 49 1.7 mi away ⇄
Cryers Hill 55 2.1 mi away ⇄
Great Kingshill 51 2.8 mi away ⇄
Clayhill 43 2.9 mi away ⇄
Lane End 42 3.1 mi away ⇄
Hazlemere 57 3.1 mi away ⇄
Speen 35 3.1 mi away ⇄
Bolter End 40 3.4 mi away ⇄
Bledlow Ridge 28 3.6 mi away ⇄
The City 33 3.7 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Downley a nice place to live?

Downley is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Downley is 63/100, placing it among an average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Downley?

Downley is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 81/100. There were 284 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are house prices like in Downley?

The current median house price in Downley is £480,000, around 68% above the England and Wales average. Over the past five years, prices have fallen by around 5%.

Downley in context

See the best places to live in Buckinghamshire, ranked

Postcode districts in Downley

HP13 58 ⇄

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